Thank you for visiting.
This content is exclusive to subscribers only.
As a digital subscriber, you’ll receive unlimited access to Horn Book web exclusives and extensive archives, as well as access to our highly searchable Guide/Reviews Database.
To access other site content, visit The Horn Book homepage.
Log In
Don't have a Horn Book Account?
Register Now
Register Now
Redwine, C. J.
6 Reviews
(4)
YA
Thrown into prison by an imposter, Prince Javan can reclaim his throne by winning the prison's gladiatorial tournament, but he'll need the help of a slave girl, Sajda, who has her own secrets. Darker than previous Ravenspire installments, the plot is action driven, leaving the romance angle feeling rushed. Nevertheless, fans of intense fantasy action will be pleased.
Reviewer: Lauren Chambers
(3)
YA
In this "Rumpelstiltskin" retelling set within the same world as The Shadow Queen, Princess Ari's brother sells his soul to Wish Granter Alistair Teague, a fae, in return for their safety. Determined to save her brother and kingdom from Teague's criminal empire, Ari enlists help from weapons master Sebastian. Multiple plot twists add to the suspense, and a slow-building romance will further hook readers.
Reviewer: Lauren Chambers
(4)
YA
In this retelling of "Snow White," Lorelai uses magic to overthrow her stepmother, unaware that a dragon shape-shifting king has agreed to hunt Lorelai in exchange for the queen's help in a war his people are losing. A predictable romance is interspersed with cinematic moments of action that keep the plot moving. For fairy-tale fans who want darker than Disney.
Reviewer: Lauren Chambers
(4)
YA
Rachel and Logan (Defiance; Deception) have been captured by different sides. To find each other they will have to beat all their enemies and deal with their own desires for vengeance. The protagonists' alternating voices sound too similar, and after much buildup the final battle is rather anticlimactic. However, series fans will enjoy seeing where the two end up.
Reviewer: Lauren Chambers
(4)
YA
A post-apocalyptic landscape, a huge underground monster, corrupt adults, a murderer in their ranks--Rachel and her beloved, Logan (Defiance), have the odds stacked against them. Rachel's fierce determination, so powerful in some scenes, mysteriously evaporates when convenient, an exasperating writing choice. Even so, the cool, subtle hints of the world before and the magnificently described Wasteland save the day.
Reviewer: April Spisak
(2)
YA
When Rachel's father disappears, she sets out to save him by entering the Wasteland--a region that means almost certain death. Rachel's personal ethics crumble as she makes choices that mirror her enemies'. Desperation pervades the bleak descriptions, poignant dialogue, and (slightly overwrought) romance. For adventure fans who don't mind a few love scenes and some philosophical debate sprinkled in.
Reviewer: April Spisak
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
November, 2012
6 reviews
We are currently offering this content for free. Sign up now to activate your personal profile, where you can save articles for future viewing.